Liam Lawson faced a challenging Bahrain GP, with several penalties affecting his performance.
- The Racing Bulls driver’s weekend started on a low note due to a DRS failure in qualifying.
- Lawson received penalties for incidents with Lance Stroll and Nico Hulkenberg during the race.
- Despite a fast car, Lawson struggled with overtaking on the Sakhir track.
- Frustration was evident in Lawson’s post-race comments, highlighting lost opportunities.
Liam Lawson’s Bahrain Grand Prix turned into a test of resilience, as a DRS malfunction in qualifying saw him starting from 17th on the grid. This setback was a significant blow, as the drag from the failed mechanism cost him crucial time, preventing his progression to Q2. Lawson reflected on the weekend, saying, “The speed’s been there all weekend,” but the DRS issue essentially shackled his ambitions.
The race itself was no less daunting for Lawson. He found himself enmeshed in a cascade of penalties, starting with a five-second penalty for clipping Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll during a safety car period. The difficulties persisted when he incurred another penalty, this time a 10-second one, following a collision with Nico Hulkenberg as racing resumed. Lawson communicated his struggle candidly, remarking, “From where we were starting, it was going to be hard, but we just got stuck the whole race.”
Despite the car’s potential, overtaking was a Herculean task for Lawson on the Bahrain circuit. He described the necessity of making bold moves, perhaps alluding to his aggressive driving that led to penalties. After reviewing the incidents, Lawson expressed a sense of regret but reaffirmed, “It’s a shame, but we weren’t on for points, anyway.” His words reflect the frustration of having a fast car that couldn’t translate into tangible results.
The sense of frustration was palpable as Lawson spoke post-race, acknowledging the irony of having a competitive vehicle yet being unable to capitalize due to starting so far down the order. Lawson noted, “The biggest shame was that the car was fast all weekend.” He expressed that the challenges of overtaking made every position on the track valuable, encapsulating the competitive essence of Formula 1.
Liam Lawson’s penalty-laden Bahrain GP exemplified the fine margins in Formula 1 racing, where speed is only one piece of the puzzle.
